Last Modified: Wednesday, December 12, 2012 at 11:24 p.m.

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What they heard on Wednesday night was strong support for bringing the renowned attraction into the state park system.

More than 500 people turned out at Vanguard High School to discuss the springs with parks officials from the Department of Environmental Protection.

Overwhelmingly from the more than 60 people who spoke directly to the DEP panel, and from numerous rounds of applause generated every time the idea was raised, the consensus expressed by those gathered was that Silver Springs needed to become part of the adjacent Silver River State Park.

"We heard almost unanimous approval that Silver Springs should be part of the park system and that it be managed as well as it can be," said Albert Gregory, chief of DEP's Bureau of Park Planning in Tallahassee.

That, however, depends on whether the state can reach an accord with Palace Entertainment, the California-based amusement park company that has operated the park since 2002.

Gregory declined to comment on whether a deal was in place about that. He said any announcement about that might be coming in the spring.

"We're going as fast as we can," he added.

During the three-hour meeting, dozens of speakers championed better protection for the springs. And that largely involved adding to the roster of 15 state parks around Florida that are centered on large freshwater springs.

Most of the speakers urged DEP to take quick action, citing the declining health and output of the mammoth springs.

And not only was there staunch support for Silver Springs being a state park, but there also was universal praise for DEP's ability to manage the land.

Where disagreement sprang up was in what role private companies should play in trying to convert Silver Springs from a theme park to an ecotourism attraction.

A majority recommended that private companies be held at bay, if allowed in at all, for fear of further degrading the site.

Ecotourism, as they saw it, meant providing people a natural wonder wherein the surrounding community could benefit.

Others, though, argued that the springs' beauty and health were never better than when it was privately held. Some critics argued that Silver Springs' decline began when DEP took over.

They maintained that locally managed entrepreneurs, governed through public-private partnerships, would care as much as environmentalists for the well-being of the waterway — if not more — since their livelihood depended on it.

The state acquired the 254-acre site in 1993 for $21 million. Since then, four private companies, including Palace Entertainment, have contracted to run it.

<p>State environmental regulators wanted to know what Marion County thought about the future of Silver Springs.</p><p>What they heard on Wednesday night was strong support for bringing the renowned attraction into the state park system.</p><p>More than 500 people turned out at Vanguard High School to discuss the springs with parks officials from the Department of Environmental Protection.</p><p>Overwhelmingly from the more than 60 people who spoke directly to the DEP panel, and from numerous rounds of applause generated every time the idea was raised, the consensus expressed by those gathered was that Silver Springs needed to become part of the adjacent Silver River State Park.</p><p>"We heard almost unanimous approval that Silver Springs should be part of the park system and that it be managed as well as it can be," said Albert Gregory, chief of DEP's Bureau of Park Planning in Tallahassee.</p><p>That, however, depends on whether the state can reach an accord with Palace Entertainment, the California-based amusement park company that has operated the park since 2002.</p><p>Gregory declined to comment on whether a deal was in place about that. He said any announcement about that might be coming in the spring.</p><p>"We're going as fast as we can," he added.</p><p>During the three-hour meeting, dozens of speakers championed better protection for the springs. And that largely involved adding to the roster of 15 state parks around Florida that are centered on large freshwater springs.</p><p>Most of the speakers urged DEP to take quick action, citing the declining health and output of the mammoth springs.</p><p>And not only was there staunch support for Silver Springs being a state park, but there also was universal praise for DEP's ability to manage the land.</p><p>Where disagreement sprang up was in what role private companies should play in trying to convert Silver Springs from a theme park to an ecotourism attraction.</p><p>A majority recommended that private companies be held at bay, if allowed in at all, for fear of further degrading the site.</p><p>Ecotourism, as they saw it, meant providing people a natural wonder wherein the surrounding community could benefit.</p><p>Others, though, argued that the springs' beauty and health were never better than when it was privately held. Some critics argued that Silver Springs' decline began when DEP took over.</p><p>They maintained that locally managed entrepreneurs, governed through public-private partnerships, would care as much as environmentalists for the well-being of the waterway — if not more — since their livelihood depended on it.</p><p>The state acquired the 254-acre site in 1993 for $21 million. Since then, four private companies, including Palace Entertainment, have contracted to run it.</p><p>Contact Bill Thompson at 867-4117 or bill.thompson@starbanner.com.</p>